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ANA-MPA -- The discovery of the gigantic fossilised tusks of a mastodon
that roamed the Greek province of western Macedonia some 2.5-3.0
million years ago has earned Greek paleontologist Evangelia Tsoukala
the prestigious 'Giuseppe Sciacca' Science Prize awarded by the Vatican,
which is due to be presented on November 16.

The Thessaloniki University professor will share the prize with Dutch
researcher Dick Mol, who also took part in the excavation at Milies and
Agios Georgios in the region of Grevena.

The spectacular intact mastodon tusks, measuring 5.02 metres in length,
were discovered in 2007 and were the longest ever found. The fossilised
remains - from a mastodon some 3.5 metres in height, 8.5 metres long and
weighing eight tonnes - indicate that the region was tropical in nature,
with plentiful water, and occupied by many animals that today are found
in Africa and Asia.

ANA-MPA -- The fire brigade on the island of Rhodes on Monday announced
the arrest of a 40-year-old man, a member of the military, who is
accused of starting a fire that has been raging in the southern part
of the island for the last three days.

A resident of the village Istrio, the 40-year-old is suspected of causing
the fire while having a barbacue in the garden of his home. He will be
held and led before a public prosecutor later on Monday.

The fire, which has gobbled up 4,000 hectares of forest since it began
on Saturday afternoon, was still burning for a third consecutive day
on Monday morning, with authorities expecting to get the flames under
control before nightfall provided the weather "cooperates" and wind
speeds are low.